Wtkr Adds Technologies To New Show

Broadcast News

LeAnne Raines is anchoring this one by herself, but she's getting an assist from a new electronic feature.

The station has introduced a news ticker with headlines crawling across the bottom of the screen during this half hour. The ticker will give viewers the latest in world, national and local headlines as well as weather and travel information, says news director Tracye Fox.

The new feature was added because "young people are used to processing a lot of information on the screen," says Fox. In addition to the CNN-style ticker, the newscast will offer a high story count to give viewers as much local news as possible.

WTKR also introduced a new weather set this week that will be used on all of its newscasts. It puts the weather-forecasting equipment in front of the camera. Weatherman Dave Parker stands behind a podium and controls the details of the forecast with weather maps on a red wall behind him.

DIGITAL LAUNCH. On Thursday, WAVY-TV, Channel 10, went on-line with its new fully digital control booth.

Though the newscast is still being transmitted in analog, says production manager Dave Whitener, "we're preparing for the day when we go digital." That date is still to be decided.

WAVY began building its new control booth last June and has loaded it with digital audio and editing equipment. The facility also will operate the 10 p.m. newscast on WVBT-TV, Channel 43.

NEW HIRES. Amy Hybels has joined the WTKR reporting staff as a free-lance reporter. She's working on a master's degree at Regent University and can be seen on the early evening newscasts Tuesday through Thursday.

* Michael Mann has moved up to the 6-10 p.m. shift at WNVZ-FM (104.5). New hire Mike Klein has taken Mann's place on the 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift.

BABY WATCH. Mike Gooding of WVEC-TV, Channel 13, was in Washington, D.C., Thursday to cover the opening of the Senate's impeachment trial. On Friday, he was back in Richmond where the General Assembly is meeting.

Richmond may be quieter, but Gooding appreciates being closer to home as his wife is expecting a baby.

BNEWS BITES. A six-hour documentary series on African-American arts in this century will air next month on WHRO-TV, Channel 15.

"I'll Make Me a World: A Century of African-American Arts," profiles the musicians, artists, dancers and filmmakers who shaped this century's arts and culture. Spike Lee, Wynton Marsalis and Quincy Jones are some of the personalities hosting this important series. Actress Vanessa Williams narrates.

"I'll Make Me a World" will air in two-hour segments at 9 p.m. Feb. 1-3.

* Chris Jessel, host of "Chubb's Antique Roadshow," will lecture at 2 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Chrysler Museum Theatre. His appearance is part of the museum's "An Artful Setting: A Festival of Fine Design." Tickets are $35 for the lecture and exhibition. Call 664-6200.

* Hampton Roads actor Scott Rollins appears in an upcoming episode of "The FBI Files," which will air at 9 p.m. Feb. 9 on The Discovery Channel.

Rollins has been busy in local theater as well. He recently performed in the Virginia Stage Company's production of "A Christmas Carol" and is directing Poquoson Island Players' "Born Yesterday" opening Jan. 29.

David Nicholson can be reached at 247-4794 or by e-mail at dnicholson@dailypress.com